Nutevio Score
7.7Ⓝ
- IMDb
- 7.6
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 77%
- Metacritic
- 74
A team of elite commandos on a secret mission in a Central American jungle come to find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.
Imported record — imported from the Nutevio library and placed by ranking signal. A Nutevio editorial verdict has not been written for this entry yet.
The number one — extended editorial
Legacy
Predator (1987) is the entry we would put first for anyone coming straight from Predator Collection. It picks up the same characters and the same central problem, so nothing about it feels like a detour.
Cultural impact
It also works as a standalone evening. 107 minutes, no homework required beyond the film you have just watched, and it resolves its own story rather than parking it for a sequel.
John McTiernan on the material
John McTiernan treats the material as if the audience is already paying attention, which is the whole trick. Nothing is repeated for the slow row at the back, and that trust is what makes the ending land.
Awards summary
No Academy Awards on record for this title — its standing here comes from how well it holds up, not from a ceremony.
Start here — everything else in this guide reads more clearly once you have seen it.
Perfect for
- Fans of action and science fiction filmmaking
- John McTiernan admirers
- Viewers who enjoy slow-burn tension over shocks
- Big-screen viewers who want scale and practical craft
- First-timers looking for the essential entry point
Skip if
- You are looking for something light
Best watched: The biggest screen and the loudest sound system you can reach.
Editor's note
“Predator is the entry our readers write to us about most. Half of those letters disagree with the placement. We read all of them and we have not changed our minds.”
